lonelylimougeaudeIce leading his trainer, Luc, up the stairs at the Bénédictions train station.
A few minutes after I took this shot Luc and I traded places. I put on a light-tight blindfold (no cheating possible!) and we set off down the street, me gripping Ice's harness and his trainer at my side.

Walking with a blindfold feels like walking on a ship - everything sways and the ground swells up or dips away unexpectedly. It's scary and awkward and I've never felt so grateful for my eyesight, or felt more admiration for those who live with blindness or visual impairment. But after a while I relaxed and learned I could trust Ice. Luc told me to loosen my grip on the harness so I could better feel Ice's subtle movements and changes in direction. Ice relaxed. We fell into a rhythm and I felt a connection and partnership that hinted at the deep bond he'll soon form with his new owner.
He guided me through roundabouts and across big intersections and up and down curbs. He led me around trash bins and cars parked on the sidewalk, around poles and parking meters and posts. We avoided wobbly toddlers and people with their noses in their telephones. We went up an escalator and through a shopping mall and even detoured a pile of dog poo! I couldn't see any of these things, obviously, but had an ongoing narrative of the events by Luc, who was always right by my side in case I stumbled.

But I didn't even stumble.
When I set off with the blindfold I thought it was going to be a sort of silly demonstration. But that walk made me realize how a guide dog can be an opening to possibility and liberty. I got to see and experience my dog at work - happy and competent - the result of Luc's training and Ice's good nature - and it filled me with pure joy and gratitude and amazement. I felt ridiculously proud. #VSCOcam#guidedog#chienguide#labrador#limoges#ig_france#igersfrance2mon